Author: Lucas

Key NotesBitwise’s new BPRO fund maintains minimum 25% gold allocation while actively adjusting Bitcoin, precious metals, and mining stock positions.The 0.96% annual fee undercuts competitor BTGD’s 1.05% expense ratio in the currency debasement hedge category.Partnership with Boston-based Proficio Capital brings $5 billion firm’s expertise to precious metals strategy component. Bitwise Asset Management launched the Bitwise Proficio Currency Debasement ETF on NYSE Arca on Jan. 22. The fund combines Bitcoin BTC $89 422 24h volatility: 0.7% Market cap: $1.79 T Vol. 24h: $41.96 B with gold and other precious metals. It also invests in mining stocks. The fund trades under the…

The bank has been built around giving savers more choice and better support (Image: Getty)A new bank has launched in the UK, promising competitive rates and a return to what it calls “human-first” banking. The new provider, thisbank, says it wants to offer consistently strong deals rather than short-term headline rates that quickly disappear. The bank opens with an easy access savings account paying 3.76% gross / 3.82% AER variable. It is also offering a range of fixed-term products at 3.99% gross/AER fixed across one, two and five years. While these rates do not top the current best-buy tables, they are…

Gold, Silver Rates Today LIVE: Gold and silver prices in the international market retreated from record highs on Thursday on signs of cooling geopolitical tensions over Greenland , which boosted the US dollar. Gold price fell as much as 1% after three days of gains that had taken it to an all-time high above $4,888 an ounce in the previous session.Spot gold price declined 0.8% to $4,799.79 per ounce, after scaling a record peak of $4,887.82 in the previous session. US gold futures for February delivery lost 0.6% to $4,806.60 per ounce. Spot silver price fell 0.9% to $92.38 an…

By HELEN KIRRANE, REPORTER, THIS IS MONEY Updated: 11:37, 22 January 2026 JN Bank has rebranded itself as This Bank in the UK and has launched new savings accounts alongside it.JN Bank launched in 2019 and was the first Caribbean owned bank to get a banking licence when it was authorised in December 2019. It launched its first savings products to market in October 2020. It now has around 65,000 customers and looks after £600million in deposits. This Bank will be headed up by chief executive Chris Waring who previously worked at Lloyds and Barclays. The bank does not offer current accounts, but…

Understanding premiums and discounts The relationship between an investment trust’s share price and its net asset value (NAV) is the most important concept to grasp, as it creates opportunities and risks that don’t exist with open-ended funds. Net asset value per share represents the total value of all investments held by the trust, minus any debts, divided by the number of shares in issue. If you could liquidate the trust today, selling every holding at current market prices and paying off all liabilities, each shareholder would theoretically receive this amount. However, the market price of shares rarely matches this figure…

JN Bank UK is now called This Bank – stylised as thisbank – and it has relaunched today with a range of savings products12:28, 22 Jan 2026Updated 12:35, 22 Jan 2026JN Bank has rebranded as thisbank(Image: Getty)A new UK bank has launched today following a major rebrand.JN Bank UK is now called This Bank – stylised as thisbank – and it has relaunched today with a range of savings products. This Bank offers an easy-access account paying 3.82% which is higher than the average easy-access rate of 2.45% – but it can be beaten elsewhere.For example, Chase offers a rate…

By Anthony Harrup U.S. crude oil inventories rose last week as refineries ran at a slower rate, and product stocks grew amid a decline in demand, according to data released Thursday by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Commercial crude oil stocks excluding the Strategic Petroleum Reserve rose by 3.6 million barrels to 426 million barrels in the week ended Jan. 16 and were about 2% below the five-year average for the time of year, the EIA said. Crude stocks were expected to have fallen by 500,000 barrels, according to a Wall Street Journal survey of analysts. Oil stored in the…

Many investors love gold – especially in times of economic or geopolitical turmoil.It’s treated as a “safe haven” asset thanks to its scarcity and because it is seen to have intrinsic value. The idea is that even if the entire modern economy collapses, people will still value gold – the same couldn’t be said for Nvidia shares.That is why 2025 was an exceptional year for gold, as global strife led many more to invest in it. Over the course of 2025, the price of gold increased by 64.5%. MoneyWeek Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues…

Springvale Industrial Estate is moving closer to full occupancy10:10, 19 Jan 2026Updated 10:10, 19 Jan 2026Springvale Industrial Estate in Cwmbran.(Image: )FI Real Estate Management has let 12,432 sq ft of space at its Springvale Industrial Estate in Cwmbran to bulk-buy retailer Wholesale Motion. The new tenant has taken unit 54, which provides industrial and trade counter space.Wholesale Motion will use the new unit to expanded its distribution space.The deal was completed in just two weeks, amid continuing demand for industrial space in Cwmbran. Existing occupiers range ranging from large national companies such as Rentokil and Fike Safety Technology to growing…

Investors are placing significant bets on increased defense spending.Shares of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions (KTOS 7.12%) jumped 45% this week, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence. The defense contractor focused on unmanned vehicles (drones) and advanced communication systems for combat is soaring due to a new contract win, increased proposals for defense spending in 2026, and the United States’ operation in Venezuela. Kratos Defense & Security SolutionsToday’s Change(-7.12%) $-8.58Current Price$112.01Key Data PointsMarket Cap$20BDay’s Range$111.23 – $121.3052wk Range$23.90 – $134.00Volume2.9MAvg Vol3.1MGross Margin22.16% Rising revenue, increasing defense budgets It has been a busy week for defense contractors. After the…